"
Brokenly, with many pauses from weakness, he dictated his last
letter, and she wrote his words as well as she could see to do so.
"They will be all the sweeter and more soothing for your tears, my
dear," he said.
He kept up with wonderful composure until he came to his message to
"little Hal," his youngest child. Then the old soldier broke down
and reached out his arms in vain yet irrepressible longing. "Oh, if
I could kiss the little fellow just once before--" he moaned.
For a few moments he and the girl at his side just wept together,
and then the old man said almost sternly, "Tell him to honor his
mother and his God, to live for the South, for which his father
died. Say, if he will do this he shall have my blessing, not
without. Now, my child, I trust this letter to you. Good-by and God
bless you. I wish to be alone a little while and face the last enemy
calmly."
As she knelt down and kissed him tears again rushed to his eyes and
he murmured, "That was good and sweet of you, my child.
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